BUTTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, Dec. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Volunteers at the United Nations-affiliated non-profit UNITED SIKHS commemorated International Volunteer Day with selfless acts of service for the local residents affected by the deadly Camp Fire. Working with the Gurudwara Sahib in Roseville, Salvation Army and American Red Cross, UNITED SIKHS delivered hundreds of humanitarian aid supplies to fire survivors and first responders across Butte County shelters. The donations included food and beverage supply, as well as blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, baby essentials, and personal hygiene products.

In addition to serving California residents in need, the organization also donated several hundred pizzas to Butte County firefighters, police officers and sheriffs as a token of appeciation for their tireless work.

“Uplifting humanity and helping others through selfless acts of service is a key principle Sikhs live by, known as seva,” said Gurvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS International Humanitarian Aid Director. “International Volunteer Day gives us a great opportunity to shed light on how we put this principle into practice year-round. We are grateful to our service men and women and first responders who helped make our humanitarian donations possible.”

“We have had a beautiful partnership with UNITED SIKHS,” said Cadet Gina Noble, Salvation Army Volunteer at the Camp Fire Relief Distribution Center in Chico, California. “It is just such a beautiful manifestation of what humanity is, if we can come together to serve those in need in such a beautiful way. Thank you, Sikh Community!”

“Thank you very much for your kind donations,” Sgt. Kerry Turner told UNITED SIKHS Volunteers at the Butte County Sheriff’s Department. “We will make sure it gets to the right people.”

Butte County officials announced on Monday the number of the missing dropped to 11 people, while the death toll is now at 85 — the nation’s highest in over a century. Search and clean-up efforts have resumed, as heavy rain slid through scorched areas last week.

Firefighters contained the Camp Fire on Nov. 25, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It burned 153,336 acres and destroyed nearly 14,000 residences since ignited on Nov. 8. Schools in the county also re-opened this week, welcoming back 31,000 students.

Largely a retirement community, Butte County has a homeless population of roughly 2,000 individuals. In October, county officials declared a homeless crisis. To help provide long-term humanitarian assistance, UNITED SIKHS will continue working with local partners and officials to host ongoing donation drives, asking the public to drop-off canned goods and sleeping bags to the Gurudwara Sahib, located at 1090 Main St, Roseville, CA 95678.

California residents in need of immediate assistance may call the UNITED SIKHS disaster helpline at 1-888-243-1690 or email contact@unitedsikhs.org. A full list of evacuation centers can be found at http://fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/. To donate to this effort, please visit: https://unitedsikhs.org/donate.php.

ABOUT UNITED SIKHS Associated with the United Nations Dept. of Public Information UNITED SIKHS is a global humanitarian charity that advocates for civil and human rights across 11 chapters. Our International Civil & Human Rights Advocacy helps advance the economic, social and spiritual empowerment of minorities and other marginalized groups and individuals in need, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social status, age or ability. We achieve this by protecting and enforcing the civil and human rights of minorities and marginalized groups in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Visit us at www.UNITEDSIKHS.org